20th May, 2022
By Adejoke Adeleye/Abeokuta
Despite the ongoing strike by some of their lecturers, students of tertiary institutions across Ogun state on Thursday shutdown major roads in Abeokuta, the state capital as they march in support of second term for Governor Dapo Abiodun..
The students who embarked on the solidarity walk under the aegis of the Joint Campus Committee of Ogun State chapter of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) went round the state capital to drum up support for Abiodun.
They said the governor has in the past three years demonstrated he is youth friendly in the policies implemented by his administration.
The students, who also carried placards, bearing different inscriptions to drive home their points, dissociated themselves from the previous rally allegedly staged by a group of students at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory where they demanded that party leaders must disqualify the state governor from contesting for a second term of office.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards reads: “Nigerian Students Appreciate Dapo Abiodun For Your Inclusiveness”; “Dapo Abiodun, thank you for renovating the NYSC Orientation camp”; “Nigeria Students Pass Vote Of Confidence In Abiodun”; “Abiodun, thank you for renovating the Primary Healthcare Centers in the 20 Local Government Areas” among others.
The solidarity walk, which commenced at the Orí – Omi City Square in Sokori axis of Abeokuta, took the students to the popular Lafenwa, Itoku and Kuto markets before it terminated at the State Secretariat Complex in Oke – Mosan, Abeokuta, where they were received by the state governor, Abiodun.
The students leaders commended Governor Abiodun who they claimed had set a template that encourages the youths in the state to excel and embrace genuine means of livelihood, rather than internet fraud and other social vices.
They described the group that went to Abuja to demand Abiodun’s disqualification as a “group of faceless youths, sponsored by some politicians who are only envious of the governor’s success stories in the areas of agriculture, security, youths developments among others feats achieved by Abiodun within the past three years.
In the message tothe governor by the NANS- Ogun JCC chairman, Comrade Damilola, the largest students’ body in Nigeria urged Abiodun to discountenance what they termed as “character assassination exercise of the misguided few”, who were allegedly sponsored by “politicians of yesterday’s glory” to demand for his disqualification against the year 2023 re-election bid.
“We are not unaware of the role being played by a set of greedy and senseless politicians in this state at recruiting and sponsoring some young people under a faceless organization as agents of a political propaganda and character assassination”.
“This is expected because with your level of commitment and sincerity at making Ogun State work for all. We are with you and Ogun State people will always appreciate your efforts”.
The students leaders however, demanded that the governor must proceed without further delay, in his efforts towards taking the state to the desired height, particularly at improving the standards of education.
Responding, the Governor appreciated the students, describing them as “youths, worthy of upholding the legacies of truth” for the betterment of the larger society”.
Abiodun, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, ‘Biyi Adeleye, assured the students that he would not let the banner of progress in the state down, and will continue to be the pride of all by standing by the truth all the time.